Alkali metal doped ruthenium dioxide nanosheets with lattice distortion as highly active oxygen evolution electrocatalysts in acidic media

Abstract

Developing economic and acid-compatible oxygen evolution electrocatalysts is vital for their practical application in proton exchange membrane water electrolyzers, which has drawn worldwide attention. Herein, Li doped RuO₂ NSs with abundant lattice distortions were successfully prepared and used as highly active and durable oxygen evolution electrocatalysts. In particular, Li doped RuO₂ NS electrodes exhibit excellent oxygen evolution reaction (OER) activity under acidic conditions with a low overpotential of 169 mV at 10 mA cm⁻², which is about a 20-fold enhancement in catalytic activity in comparison with pristine RuO₂. As evidenced by HRTEM and EDLC measurements, the enhancement is mainly due to the incorporation of extraneous Li atoms in RuO₂ induced rich lattice distortions and increased active site exposure. This work may provide a simple avenue for the synthesis of efficient acidic OER catalysts.